Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx7N63HCTBWijHpI-qphK3A/join
The Montreal Canadiens went through the offseason without adding the established second-line center many expected — so who fills that major role to start the season?
With training camp approaching, Martin St-Louis has some fascinating options.
Could Alex Newhook finally get an extended opportunity down the middle? Is Oliver Kapanen ready to take another step and claim the job? Or could a healthy Kirby Dach get another chance to prove he can be the Canadiens’ answer at second-line center?
On today’s Starr & D’Amico Show, we break down all three candidates, what each player brings to the position, who fits best alongside Montreal’s wingers, and what Martin St-Louis could be looking for when camp begins.
The Canadiens didn’t go outside the organization to find their 2C. Maybe the answer was already here.
Who would YOU start at second-line center: Newhook, Kapanen or Dach?
Subscribe for Montreal Canadiens news, analysis, rumours, trades and everything Habs all season long!
#montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey
I'd start the season with Kapanen. He looked good early last season. He will only be better, I feel.
Also guys, what's the over/under on Hutson wearing the A next season? I want a new jersey, but not wait.
Awesome convo, guys.
Agreed about our top 6. Keep the two lines that got you the best results when they played together.
Kapanen has untapped potential yet, and we have others who may force management's hand at training camp.
I'm just hyped to see the boys play again.
6 dodos until Sept 8th!!!! 🙏🐴
Maybe that's why Hughes hasn't made a move because he wants to see a month of Kapanen (or Dach) and if either of them can fill the role. Makes more sense considering Hage is coming sooner or later. Kapanen should be better if he's given a leash. MSL tends to give short leashes to certain playets so I don't think the experiment will be that long. Also wonder if Kap hit the rookie wall last season after so many games and if he'll have a sophomore jinx this season or was that his slump and he'll be ready to go.
Dach will more then likely be given all opportunities to start as the second line center to start the year
Gee we've given Dach and Xhekaj years to develop. So far they haven't done anything. Kapanen had an amazing rookie year. He finished 2nd (?) in rookie goals. And for some reason, a large number of fans want to dump him. Why because he ran out of juice at the end of the year? If Kapanen plays on the 2nd line all year he scores 30 and more than doubles his assist totals.
For heaven's sake please don't experiment with the 1st line, especially with Dach.
Bolduc + Reinbacher + 1st pick for Marchenko.
Hage and Zharovsky are now* Untouchable.
And trade Fucking procelaine Guhle for a RD. This guy is injured again…
We saw Dach skate yesterday and it's the SAME old SAME Kirby Dach…nothing changed.
Well can we at least listen to Dach? I remember him in the playoffs saying he grew up playing centre and he would rather play there. So why put Dach on the wing? If we’re gonna try to revamp this player give him the best shot he can.
Bolduc – Dach – Demidov
Texier – Evans – Kapanen
Newhook – Danault – Anderson
Man the roof will blow up in habsnation if/when Xhekaj is traded. I'm a big fan of his but I also understand guys like Engstrom are pushing and are better 5 on 5 in the style MSL likes to play. I still wish they could find a way to make it work. Slowly ramp up his utilization and trust him. Longer leash. Instill confidence in him despite growing pains cause the rest of the team has arrived so live with it during the regular season and know his REAL value will come in playoffs. Build him towards that. Played the entire tampa series.
Dach on the 1st line to be a poor mans Slav? LOL you have to just laugh 😝 at this comment and say to yourself we're so glad Shaun is not the coach. No disrespect to Shaun but Dach honestly IMO should be given 4th line mins so he doesn't break and then out for 2-4 months with injuries again. Dach cannot play a 200ft game either, mistakes happen with him and his play shows he is very timid, he is nervous of the next injury. Montreal should have given up on him, traded him away and cut their loses, but Kent gave up alot to get him and if he gives up on Dach I think Kent sees it as a reflection on him as a bad trade that cost Montreal and Kent doesn't want that on his record so here we are stuck with this china doll.
Like number David Reinbacher…Kapanen's willingness to go to the net (and a the other teams expressing annoyance at him after the play) convinced me he is legit. I agree with Marco's pick for 2C (as it stands now). Kapanen was a rookie last year. He did the right things to support Demidov (two-way play and going to the net for the playmaker) and also Newhook or Slaf on line 2 W if it helps. There is no reason why they should not be kept together until we see something different emerge. I would not rule out Dach if he can show MSL something that warrants a Top 6 role (line 1W or line 2C). We are going to be ok. Like you say it is not perfect but as long as they are getting regular season wins we are going to be ok. If one adopts the premise that the rebuild is still happening and we have one more year to complete it, then all good. We may take some lumps working on a new D strategy & structure, but if it advances the team toward greatness, it is worth it.
Dock is not a 4th line player. lost time to put him on the 4th line. dock with slav and demidov???
put Newhook on left wing 1st line with susuki and cole 13 on right wing??
My choice would be Kapanen, I think the position will be filled by committee with Newhook as the alternative centerman until a trade is made to acquire a #2 centerman.
But Capanen is a logical 2nd center give him his chance 22 goals at his 1st season. another season could only give him more experience to improve his skills
I would give a shot at Dach with Demidov. Dach has finally spent an offseason without an injury to heal, he could surprise. That said, i expect Kapanen to be the 2C to start the year.
Am I crazy in wanting to see Demidov/Kapanen/Dach as the second line to start the season? Maybe Dach can fill that role that Slavkovsky filled when that line was playing so well last season. We don't need Dach to play center, we have Evans/Danault for 3c and 4c. Leaves Newhook/Evans/Texier and Bolduc/Danault/Anderson for 3/4 or 4/3 (honestly interchangable).
If not this, then please reunite Bolduc/Dach/Texier as the 3rd line for great depth scoring, put Newhook up on the 2nd line, and Evans/Danault/Anderson as a true 4th/checking line.
Dach will be traded by the trade deadline…McJesus to Mtl!
I can see Strubel, Dach and a 1st round pick going elsewhere for a top 6 winger…. especially if that guy stays in Russia instead of returning…. unless traded.
Strubel may be swapped for Engstrom in that deal…
Tony’s show says that Habs are still in on marchenko